Improvement in metal cans, cases, boxes



J.BOUVET. SEALING TIN GA NS, &c.

No. 43,378. Patented June 28, 1864.

UNITED STATES JEAN BOUVET, on A ROCHELLE, FRANCE, Assienon To MoRrrzErmine,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN METAL CANS, CASES, BOXES, 810., ,FOR- PRESERVING FOOD,GUNPOWDER, LIQUIDS,

euros, Ol-LS, AND'OTHER ARTICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43.37% dated-June 28,1864.

I0 all whom, it may concern:

. Be it known that I,'JEAN BQUVET, of La Rochelle, in'the Empire ofFrance, have-i11 wented a --new and useful Improvement in Metal Cans,Cases, Boxes, &c., Designed for- Preserving Food, Gunpowder, Liquids,Paints, 1

Oils,-and otherArticles; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and-to the letters of reference marked thereon,

The nature of my invention consists of arr improved mode of closing orsealing tinfpreserve-boxes and other vessels in a manner which allowstheir being opened without the use of sharpinstrnments, and consequentlywithout risk of injuring the contents, and at the same time withoutinjuring the box or lid, so asto allow theirbeing used again.

In order to make others skilled in the art understand the manufactureand use of my invention, Iwill now proceed to describe the same moreclosely, referring thereby to the annexed drawings, in which likeletters denote like parts in all the'figures. 1

Figure I shows a longitudinal sectional View over the line X X of Fig.II of a-tin preserve-box of a round shape. Fig..II is aplan or top viewtaken from theinside-ofthe box. Fig. III is a similarview taken from theoutside. Fig. IV represents an outside top view -of a square tin box ofa shape generally made use of for preserving sardines.

A represents the body of aftin preservebox or sardine'box made in anyknown manner, the upper end 'or rim of which is bent toward the inside,so as to make this rim form a sort'of inverted gutter or hollow swellinga.

1?, represents the lid, the edges of which are also bent toward the.inside, so as to form a similar gutter or swelling, b. v

" 0 represents a wire made of tinned iron or other suitable metal in.any desirable shape,

but of a size to fit into the vacant space left between the gutters aand b. The body of the box is'put. over a form or- -block of wood ormetal, (corresponding with its size and shape,) and receives thereuponthe top or lid Bby the latter being laid onthe form or block. The lid isthen surrounded by 'said wire O, and the two gutters a andb, thusconnected by the wire 0, are then soldered together, the soldering beingdone on the outside of -the lid over the wire. The wire should not onlyreach around the lid, but one end, e,..of it should also protrude alittle to the outside of the same .and be free from solder. When the boxis to be opened,this small free ends of the wire is taken hold of by'apair of pinchers or a similar contrivance, and

with .a little efiortjs turned or coiled around the pinchers. Itthereupon gets loose from the' solder, and by becoming free itselfseparates the lid from the body of "the box without injury to eitherorthe c tents. This new mode of fastening and soldering the lid to thebody of t ebox is fully as secure as the old ones:

Boxes thus secured can besubmitted to the same amount of boiling heat,and handling as others, and have the advantage of much greaterconvenience in opening them.

While the box is in process of being made,

ciple embodied in thi's invention is applicable not only'to tin cans andboxes designed for-the reservation of food and liquids, but also toeta-llic vessels containing gunpowder, oils. pai ts,1chemicals, books,or the many other articles for which (while in transit or store) metalcases,;ican s, boxes, or other metallic vessels are generally used forthe purpose of preservation and protection against the elements.

Having thus given a full description thereof, I .claim as my inventionand desire to se .cureby'LettersPatent of the United States- Themanufacture and use of metal boxes; cans, cases, and other metallicvessels her.- metically sealed or closed by inserting and soldering awire between the body and the in tended opening of such metal box, can,ease, and "other metallic vessel, one end oflsuch wire protruding at theoutside for beginning and effecting such opening;

'Witnesses: JEAN BOUVE'IR A. GPBRADE, REGNAULD.

